The administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to involve various stakeholders, including the citizens, unions, civil society organizations, community leaders and critical sectors in the governance of the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Yinka Oyebode made the declaration during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State council.
Expressing gratitude to the union for its crucial role in disseminating information about government programmes and policies, Oyebode seized the opportunity to announce the administration’s plans for 2024, noting that government was committed to executing projects with a direct impact on citizens, citing examples from the administration’s performance in the last fifteen months.
He said the administration is set to achieve double of what it achieved last year in the areas of infrastructure upgrade, socio economic development, general welfare, wellbeing and safety of the people, having successfully laid a solid foundation for its shared prosperity agenda.
Highlighting the importance of journalism as the fourth estate of the realm, the Special Adviser urged journalists in Ekiti State to embrace developmental journalism. He called for a collective effort to maintain the integrity of the profession and urged the new NUJ executives to passionately defend the rights of their members.
Oyebode assured the union of the government’s continuous support, urging journalists not to relent in their fundamental roles of educating and enlightening the citizens as well as offering constructive criticism.
Responding, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, lauded the various initiatives and ongoing support for the union and its members from the government.
He acknowledged the Special Adviser’s significant contributions to the media industry, emphasizing his role in building, mentoring, and creating opportunities for journalists and young media professionals, hence the union’s decision to name a legacy project after Mr. Oyebode.
Commending Governor Oyebanji’s efforts in ensuring the welfare of journalists, Babatuyi pledged that the union will continue projecting the activities and policies of the government while maintaining a vigilant stance to keep the administration accountable.
The NUJ chairman assured that the union would play its part in contributing to the overall development and success of Ekiti State.